SALT LAKE CITY -- Local postal workers protested outside the downtown post office on Sunday as part of a nationwide effort to retain Saturday mail delivery service.
Rather than turn to social media or email, the postal workers organized their protest through flyers they sent in the mail. Hundreds of postal workers and customers showed up to Sunday’s event, where they waved signs and asked people to support six-day service.
Saturday service is scheduled to stop in August, which is a reaction to the fact the postal service reported a $16 billion loss in 2012. Cutting Saturday service is projected to save an estimated $2 billion each year.
However, protesters at Sunday’s rally said cutting service down will be the beginning of the end, as two days off would disrupt business, package delivery and services like Netflix.
Letter carrier Kimberly Mortensen said the postal service should extend rather than reduce delivery services.
“There is no reason to cut the service,” she said. “I think we should expand the service to seven days per week. People want instant service. They want their goods and services delivered from the internet every day.”
Eric Bricgrotepas is another local letter carrier, and he said reducing service would deprive people of an asset.
“Nobody can deliver to every address in the country six days per week, and we can do that,” he said. “We don't want to lose that. We want to be able to be out there and take care of the people.”
Sunday’s protest was one of many held across the nation. Protesters said that people can expect to hear more on this issue in the months to come.
